//------------------------------// // Awaken to a new world // Story: Innocence Once Lost // by Scorched Earth //------------------------------// Proof reader/Editor: xoid Applejack walked away from the barn. With harvest done and everything set, there was very little to do. She had gone and fixed some loose planks, but otherwise... she was just looking for something to do. Guess she could try to talk to her double. She had been pretty nervous today. They had received a word that humans had done their surgery on Big MacIntosh yesterday and they would hear about the results today. Her double had barely moved away from one them fancy communicators that had spread across Equestria. As she approached the house, her double ran out. “Get moving! We need to get to Twilight and ask her to call in a favor! We need to get to New Baltimore!” Her double shouted at her. “Whoa whoa whoa! Hold your apples girl, what’s this about?” “They just called! Big Mac is waking up, or at least I think they said so. They had so many fancy words in there but we need to be there! NOW!” “Right, right, let’s get moving.” Applejack answered, backing off slightly. Their doubles knew how to be scary when they wanted to be. And sometimes didn’t want to be. Two of them headed to the town, moving straight to the library. After knocking on the door, Twilight’s double opened the door. She was wearing her disguise, which had her colors reversed. Instead of her normal cutie mark, she had a wand with three stars around it. “Oh, hello you two. How can I help you?” She asked the two. “We need to get a ride to New Baltimore. Right now.” “Umm, my double isn’t here now, she is visiting Canterlot at the moment and...” “Perfect! Then we just need to use the communicators to contact her and ask her to arrange a ride for us!” Applejack’s double answered and ran inside. Applejack just rolled her eyes and walked in. She herself didn’t get how those things worked, but she guessed it was kinda like Spike and his ability to send letters. “So, how have you been doing?” Applejack asked Twilight. “Good, we’ve been getting along better now. She is still kinda touchy about some subjects, but at least we can tolerate each others. I’ve pretty much already learned what to talk about and what not to talk about with her.” Twilight answered. “So what is this all about?” “You remember that mah, or her brother, in this universe is in coma?” “Yes, it was quite a shock. Then again, a lot of things were.” “Yea, so basically humans did some surgery to him and now he is apparently waking up.” “Really?! Wow, that is a new one. We have been studying the brain for several years and we still haven’t grasped what goes on in there.” “Well, apparently humans do, but then again, they got several thousands of years of practise.” “Yes, they do have that advantage.” Twilight said. Applejack’s double returned to the two, having a smile on her face. “Right, Twilight’s gonna pull in few favors and get us a ride to New Baltimore.” “I’ve been meaning to ask... how do you get all these ‘favors’? I mean, it’s like the entire embassy owes you or something.” Twilight asked. It had been bugging her for sometime now. “Oh, it’s mainly Twilight or Trixie who got them. Mostly it’s just simply helping humans when they need help. Humans got this idea that for every deed done to them, they got to pay back. So ya like help them carry stuff and they are willing to help you with some minor thing you need.” “I see... So there is no one big help you gave once, but several small things and now you cash them all in?” “Pretty much.” “Can I join you two? I would like to see a human hospital.” “Well... Ah guess it’s OK. Ya might be more interested in their technobabble that Ah am. Ya could be our translators.” She said with a grin. Applejack snorted, there had been several times when someone had tried to explain her how human tech worked. Sometimes she felt that the speaker was speaking in the entire different language. “So, what sort of favor did you owe to m... Twilight?” Twilight asked from the human pilot who had agreed to fly them to New Baltimore. “Well, she didn’t exactly do anything to me, but the ambassador owes her a small favor for helping her with some paperwork. She is my superior, so she just pulled me to fly you. Not that I complain, I got my family in New Baltimore. Might as well as go give them a surprise visit.” The pilot answered, his voice filtered through his helmet. “Okay, get ready, we are entering The Zone in 5... 4... 3... 2... 1...” Everyone felt a strange feeling, as if they first lost their senses, then got them back but slightly dulled. It was the result of the Anti-Magic Field, or “The Zone” as it was commonly referred due to human designation to it. Humans called it “The Human Habitation Zone” officially, but everyone else just called it The Zone. Although ponies could live there, it caused all kinds of troubles to them. Unicorns found that their magic was significantly weakened, some even losing it completely. Pegasi found their flying skills severely impaired. Earth Ponies fared the best, but they too found their natural connection to the land weakened and that their strength waned. To humans, however, it was a paradise. They could walk under a night sky, take walks in the nature and in general, feel like they were living like their ancestors did before their exile. Living in Luna Aeternal and its metal corridors were very different from living under open skies, where there was no limits where you could walk. Some people had started to suffer from agoraphobia, fear of open spaces. To them, ironically, it felt unnatural that there was so much open space. Of course, this had lead to some interesting situations. Since farming on the surface was very different from farming back in the moon, initial crops had been quite small. However, someone had figured out to ask earth ponies for help. Thus, despite The Zone making ponies weaker, it had lead to rather sizable number of ponies who worked in The Zone. Most of them lived outside The Zone, being ferried back and forth, but some had decided to live there. The transport set down at the airport. It was rather new, only two years old. The spaceport was reserved for orbital trips, whereas the airport was used for planetary travel. The pilot was helpful enough to get them a taxi to the hospital where Big Mac was currently. The New Baltimore Health Institute, despite its young age, had already become the leading medical research institute in the world. However, this success was not attributed to humans only. Zebra medicine, thanks to its reliance on the natural properties of plants instead of magic, had lead to Institute to hire numerous zebras to study and categorize plants and their effects. Griffins had a very good and comprehensive knowledge of the body and its functions, even of the other species. Ponies had their own tricks and tips on medical field. Numerous medical volunteers had signed up for the Institute and had eventually lead the Institute to break away from human government, declaring itself an independent research facility. This had raised a quite large outcry in the government, but in the end, forcing the Institute to return to fold would have been more damaging than what the government could expect to gain, not to mention the bad PR they would get. However, they had made clear that if any other political faction were to gain control of the Institute, the government could, and would, march its troops to the Institute. This had lead the Institute to become de facto non-aligned facility, first of its kind. It was run by donations both from different governments and private citizens. The Institute was behind many world changing medical procedures, such as cures for several previously fatal diseases. It had bridged many gaps between species and its policy to publicly release its findings had allowed all nations to benefit. Its latest research was in neuroscience. Humans had pretty good understanding of their own brains, but were still largely in the dark about higher functions and how other species’ brains worked. Applejack had, eventually, allowed them to run an experiment that was hoped to allow patients in a “Persistent Vegetative State,” whatever that meant, to wake up. The group entered the facility. On the outside, it was weird combination of intimidating human design with high walls made of metal and concrete, as well as generally welcoming coloring. Instead of being colored grey or black, it was colored white. In front of it was a sign: New Baltimore Health Institute Because We Care About Everyone, No Matter Who The group walked up to the reception. A bored looking griffin was on the duty, “Excuse me, we are here to see Big MacIntosh.” Applejack's double said to the griffin, who tapped the screen in front of him. “Ah yes. I see. Follow the blue line, room 332. Doctor Pavelskin is currently doing a check up.” The griffin answered and pointed at the lines drawn to the walls. The group thanked her and followed the lines to the room they were looking. A human doctor and two unicorns exited the room just as the group arrived. “Ah, you must be his relatives?” “Ah am, these two are mah friends.” Applejack’s double said, pointing to two ponies behind her. “I see. Well, the good news is that the surgery appears to be successful. We are detecting increasing brain activity. However, I must warn you, once again, that whoever emerges from that coma is your responsibility. We can not be sure if his personality is completely intact. Hopefully it is, the same procedure, when done to humans, results in altered personality only once in every 500 cases. However, since we are doing this for the first time...” The doctor said and shrugged. “I understand. I just want mah brother back.” “I can understand it. According to his papers, he was wounded before the end of hostilities and as such, we suggest taking it easy with him. It will be a new world he is awakening to.” The doctor said while checking his PDA and showing something to one of the unicorns. “Anyway, we don’t have an exact idea of when he will wake up. Could be any minute now, could be tomorrow. However, you are free to stay here until the end of visiting hours.” “Thank you.” Applejack’s double said and lead them inside. Big Mac was laying on a bed, with several IV drips attached to him, bandages around his head. His mane had been cut off and Twilight guessed he was bald under the bandages. She could guess why. If they had probed his brain, they would need to make sure that nothing that didn’t belong there got there. Three of them stood in silence for an hour. Twilight watched the numerous screens around, each of them showing different information about him. Heart monitor, blood flow monitor and so forth. One of the most interesting ones was a decide that monitored his brain activity. Even if Twilight didn’t fully understand it, it showed that his brain was slowly becoming more and more active. It had started with small spots of activity here and there. Now, his brain looked like someone had set a wildfire in there. Then he started to twitch and jump around, with an unpony scream coming out. “Whoa whoa whoa!” Applejack shouted. Nurses ran inside and attempted to restrain him, having little luck. More nurses ran inside and finally managed to tie him down. The doctor from earlier also run inside to told them to leave. “What is going on!?” Applejack’s double asked. “His brain, we didn’t anticipate this. It’s testing everything. Checking the system, so to say. He has not been using much of his brain these past years, so now it’s testing that everything is functioning properly. Now get out!” He shouted as a nurse guided him outside. Applejack’s double kept walking around the waiting room. Doctors had been at the work for three hours now. Twilight had spoken to one of the unicorns who had been working on the surgery. Apparently instead of gradual testing that they had been expecting, Big Mac’s brain had apparently decided to test everything at the same time. If she understood it correctly, they had started to slowly activate parts of his brain, until what they called “cascading brain re-activation” happened. Normally, on humans it lead to the subject slowly waking up as his brain restarted itself. However, apparently with ponies, it lead to brains getting overloaded. They were currently trying to make sure his brain didn’t short circuit itself and kill him. Finally, the doctor came to them. “Miss Applejack?” “Yes?” Applejack’s double pretty much jumped in front of the doctor, who took few steps back from the surprise. “Your brother is now stable and awake. He is waiting for you in the room. He is quite tired and confused, so try not to agitate him too much, alright?” “Yes and... thank you.” “We Care About Everyone, No Matter Who.” The doctor recited their motto. The group walked inside. Big Mac was once again laying on his bed, this time with several unicorns helping him. He didn’t move his head, but his eyes did focus on them. “Sis?” “Yeah, it’s me brother. How are you feeling?” “Like I was hit by entire apple harvest at once... Where am I? What’s wrong with my body?” Big Mac said, barely moving his head. “Ssh... You’re in hospital. It’s okay... it’s all okay...” Applejack’s double said, before hugging him and breaking down crying. “Oh Celestia Ah missed you...” “What? How long was I out? What’s going on?” “Miss Applejack, please step down, the patient needs rest.” One of the unicorns said, although at least she had the decency to look like she didn’t want to interrupt the family reunion. “Okay... Okay...” “Sis... I think I saw them humans around... but I’m not sure? How’s the war going?” “The war... The war is over.” Applejack’s double said. This was going to be the hard part. “So... we won?” “...” “Sis?” “No... we didn’t win, but Ah guess we didn’t lose either...” “What do you mean?” Big Mac said, his eyes concentrating on his sister. “...How long was I out of it all?” “...nine years...” “WHAT!?” Big Mac shouted, trying to rise up before being calmed down by the unicorns. “Then... what happened? I... can’t remember... I think we were headed to Ghastly Gorge...but...” “We went there and you got wounded. Fell into coma, but now you are awake. That’s all that matters.” “Then... what about humans? You said we didn’t win or lose?” “There is peace. That’s all you need to know. Now rest brother, you have long recovery ahead of you.” Applejack's double said, giving a short hug to her brother. “Yeah... I guess... I feel... kinda... tired...” Big Mac fell asleep as the anesthetics kicked in. The unicorns lead them outside after that. “Ah am gonna stay here for now, you two can return to Ponyville. Gimme a holler if something happens, okay?” “Ah think I’ll stay with you. There ain’t much to do back on the farm.” Applejack said. “Alright, I’ll just head back and get things done. It will not be long before the Princesses send the second wave of troops to reinforce the humans.” Twilight said giving the two a goodbye wave before heading for a train station. She would take a train to Fillydelphia and from there to Ponyville. Slower than flying, but without any favors to pull it was best she could do. Two Applejacks headed for a hotel. New Baltimore had few hotels and motels, with most of them dedicated to humans. Only few offered services to ponies. It was not that they banned non-human customers, but it was that their services were more tailored to humans. Human food and such. Two of them decided to use a hotel called “Dancing Pony.” It was not the best, but it was enough for few days. At least, until they would be needed. “Glad to see ya brother is OK now.” Applejack said as they entered the room they had rented. “Yeah... I just worry, so much has changed since he was last awake. Ah mean, as far as he knows, the humans were invading just because. Now Ah need to somehow explain him that humans have southern Equestria as their own and we are at peace with them? It ain’t gonna be easy.” “Yeah, Ah can see that.” She had not thought about that. Waking up in a world that was the complete opposite of what he had lived in would be quite a shock. “General Saral, nice to meet you.” Princess Celestia said as Saral walked in. She had arrived to take care of logistic and command issues that had been raised. “Princess Celestia, the pleasure is all mine. Let’s get to business. We need a centralized command that allows us to co-ordinate our troops across the contested area. As such, I propose we either turn our embassy here into temporary command center, since it has the communications systems or we set up one in New Hope City.” “Yes, I can see why. Currently we have been working each one independently. It would be good if you could lend us some of your technology to ease communication...” Celestia suggested. However, she knew the answer before it even came. “No. We will attach a special unit from us to deal with communications. No offense, Princess, but official policy of the Human Refuge is to safeguard all technology we have. It’s the only thing keeping us ahead of everyone.” “I see...” Celestia said. Although they did have a communications network in Equestria now, it was widely at the mercy of human satellites, easily cut off if they wanted. Furthermore, much of it was not understood or outdated. If she were to trust her spies and especially Luna’s information, the technology used in Equestria was at least four generations old and pretty much an open book as far as humans were concerned. On the other hoof, as far as ponies were concerned human firewalls and encryption were pretty much unbreakable. “I believe Canterlot would be the best place. The leaders are already assembled here and it’s a relatively safe location far from the main battlegrounds.” Celestia continued. “Yes, I can see that. Very well. I will take care of the matters on our end. The ambassador will probably curse me to the depths of the Sun for losing control of her embassy, but as her superior, she can’t do anything about it.” Saral said and gave her goodbyes. Celestia nodded and watched her to leave. However, she had noticed a minor slip in the General’s speech. “To the depths of the Sun... they really don’t like the day, do they?” “Mister MacIntosh, you have a visitor.” A zebra nurse said from the door. “She says she is your sister, alongside with her friend.” “Okay. Let them in.” Big Mac said. He had been confined to his bed, not by restraints, but the fact that his body refused to obey. They had told him that he could walk again after a long recovery, but for now, he was going to remain stationary. At least he would be able to eat real food again, even if it was tasteless and slightly suspicious hospital food. Still, most of his nutrients came from an IV drop. “Hey bro.” Applejack said as she entered the room and walked up to him. After a quick one-sided hug, Applejack and her friend sat down on a chairs next to him. “How have you been? They’re treating you well?” “Eeyup. Although Ah have felt better. It feels like I ain’t got strength to even raise mah hoof.” Big Mac said. “So... what’s this Ah hear about humans? Nobody agrees to tell me anything and always refer to some doctor.” “Yeah... they told me to try to take things slowly, the world has really changed past nine years. So, basic gist of it is, that the war ended in a peace treaty. Ponies and humans ain’t fighting anymore.” “Ah see... So...” “No, it didn’t end cause we got some major victory. It ended because Princess Luna found out what they wanted and how to give it to them without fighting. Humans, once they heard her proposition, agreed to negotiate with her.” Applejack said, before continuing. “Appleloosa, Dodge City and Baltimare were ceded to humans, in return humans pulled out of Fillydelphia and Los Pegasus.” “Wow... That ain’t what Ah had imagined.” “It ain’t what anyone expected, but it’s better than ta keep fighting. So now, we got humans living in southern Equestria.” “So, what did they want? Ah thought they died if you took those suits off.” “Later bro, that’s enough history for today.” Applejack said, shaking her head. Take it slow, they said. Don’t tell him too much, let him digest it before talking about other things. “The farm had been doing well this year. We got some problems last year, but with help from mah new friend here, we got the harvest done in record time!” Talking about the farm was much safer than talking about The War and humans. “Good to hear you’re still doing good. So, who’s your friend? Ah haven’t seen you before?” Big Mac asked, looking at Applejack’s friend. She had red coat with green mane, with a wooden barrel with a apple on it as a cutie mark. “Me? Ah am Apple Juice.” Big Mac could not help but cringe. If this friend was an another relative he had forgotten, Granny Smith would never forgive him. Then he realized that she had said it had been nine years... “How’s Granny Smith?” “Oh, her? She’s still alive and kicking, despite nature’s best attempts.” Applejack said with a grin. “Been complaining that you have been slacking off.” Big Mac gave her a glare, or at least tried. He wasn’t sure how effective it was since Apple Juice appeared to be trying to hold back a laugh after it. “So, where are you from, Apple Juice?” “Ah am from... uh... Hoofington. Ah worked on an apple farm, until the place got smashed by a tornado. Now Ah been helping Applejack here.” Apple Juice answered. Big Mac noticed there was a slight pause and she was avoiding eye contact. There was something else going on here, but he was not sure what. “Good to hear mah sister got help since Ah am stuck here.” He answered. “Any idea when Ah get out of here?” “Well, they say that it will most likely take two or three years before they will discharge you, but they say that it might be just a year before you can walk again.” Applejack answered. “A year!? What, am Ah stuck in this bed until then?” Big Mac said. The idea of being unable to take a walk for a year was hardly thrilling. “Hey, if you haven’t noticed, you can’t even raise a hoof. Also... you might have never woken up...” Applejack said, growing more quiet. Apple Juice put her hoof on her shoulder. “Sorry. It’s just... Ah am bored out of mah mind here. There ain’t anything to do. Ah can’t even read a book cause Ah can’t raise it, can’t go for a walk or anything.” Big Mac complained. He didn’t want to sound ungrateful, he knew that whoever had done whatever to him had allowed him to be awake again and talk to his sister, but on the other hoof, now he was stuck in a bed, unable to do anything. At least the mare nurses had nice flanks. “Yeah, Ah can understand that. Perhaps you could ask one of the nurses to help you?” Apple Juice asked. “Yeah, that might help. They are bound to have a book or two, perhaps even the latest Daring Do too.” Applejack said, looking much better already. “Ain’t that the series Rainbow Dash reads?” “Yup. Hey, that reminds me... Did you hear she’s a mom now?” “SHE’S A WHAT!?” Okay, that had come out of blue. What next, humans and ponies fighting side by side? “Yuuup.” Applejack said, mimicking his own way of saying the word.“ She adopted Scootaloo after The War.” She had a goofy grin on her face. “Okay, Ah admit. That wasn’t what Ah was expecting, but then again... Those two are... or is it were... pretty close.” He said. “So, did her parents die or something? How’s she doing these days?” “She’s doing fine. Apparently does pretty well in school. Dunno if it trauma from the war or something else, but she ain’t as good a flier as everyone had expected. Still, she’s pretty good, at least she can outfly Fluttershy, but that doesn’t take much.” “That’s good to hear.” Big Mac said when there was a knock on the door. A unicorn nurse came in with a tray of something, Big Mac guessed it was supposed to be porridge, and a glass of water. They didn’t give him any solid food yet. “Excuse me ladies, but it’s feeding time. I am sure you can come visiting later again, but for now, I must ask you to leave.” She put down the tray on a table and picked up a spoon. Applejack and Apple Juice gave their goodbyes and promised to come see him again later. “Now, be a big boy and say aah.” It had been a long day, without much of a real physical work, but he still felt exhausted like after full day of taking care of the farm. It was going to be a long recovery...